In a game with all the makings of a playoff battle, the Oklahoma City Thunder fell just short against the Minnesota Timberwolves, losing 131-128 in a thrilling overtime contest at Target Center.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put on a stellar performance with 40 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds, but his last-second three-point attempt in overtime stood out, sealing the victory for Minnesota. Anthony Edwards delivered a dominant outing for the Timberwolves, finishing with 44 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists, including a clutch go-ahead jumper with 18 seconds left in OT to give Minnesota the lead for good.
Oklahoma City had this game in the bag, leading by 24 early in the fourth quarter. With 3:55 to go, the Thunder had a 16-point lead. The Thunder would not score again in regulation and the Timberwolves went on a 16-0 run to close the game and force overtime — one of only four 24+ point fourth-quarter comebacks in the NBA in the last 29 years.
That extra period remained close, but Oklahoma City had the chance to salvage the win down one with 22 seconds left but the Thunder had the ball. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander beat his Nickeil Alexander-Walker, got in the lane for the lay-up to take the lead — and Anthony Edwards came flying in for the block.
Karl-Anthony Towns, who finished with 30 points and 11 rebounds, put the Timberwolves up 129-125 with a long three-pointer in the extra frame. But Oklahoma City refused to go away—Williams knocked down another clutch three with nine seconds left, cutting the deficit to one. After Mike Conley hit two free throws to push Minnesota’s lead to three, the Thunder had one final chance to force double overtime. However, Gilgeous-Alexander’s last-second attempt from beyond the arc was just off the mark.
“We fought until the very end,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “These are the types of games that help us grow, but we’ve got to find a way to close them out.”
STORY BY SALIFU ZAKARI ZEBA
